After surviving an assassination attempt, Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. president Donald Trump held his first campaign rally on July 20 and dismissed concerns that he was a threat to democracy, triumphantly telling a cheering crowd: “Last week I took a bullet for democracy.”

“I am not an extremist at all,” the former president said in his speech at the rally in one of the swing states — Michigan — as he dismissed his alleged ties to Project 2025, a shadow manifesto of figures close to him that has been characterized by opponents as an authoritarian, right-wing wish list.

He also ridiculed the rival Democratic Party, which is under unprecedented pressure to stop President Joe Biden from abandoning his re-election bid over concerns about his age and ability to serve through 2029 if re-elected.

“They have no idea who their candidate is. This guy goes and gets the votes, and now they want to take it away. That’s democracy,” Trump told the crowd of 12,000 supporters.

In his fiery and often rambling speech, the Republican presidential candidate reiterated his hardline positions on immigration and claims about migrant crime. He also praised foreign autocrats such as China’s Xi Jinping, calling him “brilliant” for controlling “1.4 billion people with an iron fist.”

Trump described the moments after a gunman tried to kill him at a rally in Pennsylvania. He described how, covered in blood and surrounded by Secret Service agents, he raised his fist in the air and called on his supporters to “fight!”

The crowd in Grand Rapids chanted him several times, though some left the arena after 90 minutes.

The rally was a telling one, marking Trump’s roaring return to the stage a week after the assassination attempt. He wore a small, flesh-colored bandage over his right ear, which was grazed in the attack by a 20-year-old gunman who killed a bystander.

Security was reportedly tight at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan, despite questions about Secret Service shortcomings at the Pennsylvania rally. There are few signs that the police presence will increase.

Biden’s ‘big decision’

Meanwhile, Biden loyalists have defended the president amid growing calls to withdraw from the race. The 81-year-old and his team have maintained that he will remain in the race, though reports suggest that discussions have begun among his inner circle about stepping aside.

There is much speculation about who could replace him, and as vice president, Harris is well-positioned to do so.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a leading progressive candidate who ran for the presidential nomination in 2020, endorsed Harris on Saturday without abandoning Biden.

“Joe Biden is our nominee,” she said on MSNBC. “He has a very important decision to make. But what gives me great hope right now is that if President Biden decides to step back, we have Vice President Kamala Harris, who is ready to step up, unite the party, take on Donald Trump and win in November.”

Some Democrats fear a late switch could cause chaos and harm the party at the ballot box.

Team Trump is reenergized after a series of fortunate events, including the failed assassination attempt, favorable court rulings and Biden’s poor performance in debates last month.

Saturday’s rally was Trump’s first campaign appearance with his running mate JD Vance, a 39-year-old U.S. senator from Ohio who could help win crucial swing states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Vance warmed up the crowd with a dig at Harris.

“I served in the United States Marine Corps and built a business. What the hell did you do besides cash a check?” he said of the former U.S. senator and California attorney general.

Trump supporters gathered in Grand Rapids as early as July 19, nearly a day before the rally.

Edward Young, 64, who attended his 81st Trump rally, wore a T-shirt with the now-iconic image of Trump raising his fist in the air immediately after he was shot.

“They made him a martyr and let him live,” he said. “Now he is more powerful than ever.”